Page 24 of Even in the Dark

There’s a pause before his reply, which feels good. Hopefully, I’ve knocked him down a peg. Or at least, rattled his ego.

Unknown

It's Carter Beaumont

Scarlett

Carter Beaumont? God that was like 2 yrs ago. What do u want?

Unknown

u around this wkd?

Why the hell does Carter Beaumont want to see me?

I breathe, and then type.

Scarlett

Busy. Maybe some other time

I want that asshole out of my life. For good. I also want him to feel like a nobody.

He responds right away.

Unknown

all wkd?

I hate that he’s being persistent. That this is obviously more than just a text to un-nerve me. I hate even more that I am engaged in a conversation with this sleezeball. I’m tempted to ignore him. To just not respond to his last text. But that would definitely look like I’m affected—the opposite of a casual brush-off. My reply needs to be breezy and nonchalant, like I’m barely giving him a second thought. And like I couldn’t care less if I talk to him or not.

Scarlett

Ya. Plans. Sorry gtg

I wait a few seconds, and he doesn’t text back. Still, I have a feeling this thing with him—this sudden reconnection—isn’t totally shut down. I need to be better prepared next time. God, I feel sick at the thought that there’s even going to be a “next time”, and that I won’t know when he’s going to pop up in my messages again. I want nothing to do with Carter… but if I block him, it will look like he’s getting to me—that he has some kind of power over me. And I swore I would never let that happen again.

But it feels like it already is.

If Carter decides to keep reaching out, I’ll have no choice but to respond, so he knows I’m not affected by what he did. I can’t ignore him. He’s messing with my emotions all over again, and I hate it. I hate Carter Beaumont. I hate that I’ve worked so hardthese past two years to build myself up and always be the one controlling my relationships, to be immune to guys like him… and yet here I am feeling totally gutted after one unexpected text exchange.

The sting of tears burns the corners of my eyes. I need to get out of here.

My laptop makes a loud snapping sound as I slam it closed, then cram it into my backpack along with my pencil case and binder. Silas looks up at the screeching sound my chair makes when I push back from the table. “Hey!” he calls over. He’s standing in the kitchen with an oven mitt in one hand, a plate of nachos in the other, and a wicked scowl on his face. “You’releaving?”

I don’t answer, just shove my arms into my coat sleeves.

“Are you kidding me right now?” He practically tosses the platter onto the counter. “You gonna pay for this, at least?”

“Sorry.” I fling my backpack over my shoulder. “I have to go.”

“What the hell? You’re—”

“I didn’t even eat any of it,” I call as I stride across the worn wood floors, reining in tears. I’ll come back sometime this weekend and pay him twice whatever the stupid nachos and salad cost.

Anyway, who cares what Silas Carmichael thinks of me? I probably won’t see him again until the summer at one of the larger beach ragers. I definitely won’t be seeing him this evening at Jackie’s house. It was stupid for me to even consider going. My goal isn’t to rekindle middle school friendships and seek out fun times. My goal is to get through high school on top of the pack. To spot snakes like Carter Beaumont when they first slither from beneath their hiding spaces, and to ensure I have the power to squash them before they even start their approach.

“You’re a real piece of work, you know that?” Silas calls after me as I shove the door open. Tiny bells jingle overhead,announcing my departure to the other seven customers who probably already heard our exchange a few seconds ago, even over their raucous conversation.

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